The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the recent release of 55 militants on trial before a Port Harcourt High Court and several other suspected cultists being tried for the July 10, 2013 breach of public peace in the State and attack on the State House of Assembly by Governor Rotimi Amaechi has political undertones.
The party in a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser, Media to the State Chairman, Prince Felix Obuah frowns at the laxity with which Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi handles serious issues of insecurity in the State.
It’s shocking, the PDP notes that cases as militancy as serious as organizing and mobilizing to unleash mayhem on the State hallowed chamber and a premeditated attack on State elected representatives, and lawmakers perceived as opposed to Gov. Amaechi of which the police made some arrest with arms and eventually charged them to court is treated with kids gloves, and eventually they were released.
Admitting that the governor has the constitutional right to discontinue with any case, the PDP however queries the timing of the release and coincidence with the heightened tension in the State allegedly caused by the All Progressives Congress, APC faithful across the state who are angling for relevance, insisting that the release of these militants and cultists is suspect.
The party is of the opinion that the case would have been allowed to undergo the full course of justice and finally disposed of by the court based on evidences and witnesses before the court.
According to the party, it’s laughable that the State government that raised alarm and admitted there was an unlawful assembly to disturb public peace contrary to Sections 517 and 70 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol 2, laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999 also turned round to plead that those suspected and arrested with respect to the crime knew nothing about it, even with the arms and ammunition that were received by the police
Dismissing the strategy as outdated and a failure, the PDP said it has absolute confidence in the law enforcement agents to checkmate hoodlums no matter how much they try to disguise as APC members, stressing that the only way to win the people’s votes is to address their problems and parade genuine and honest candidates who are tested, and who mean well for the State and not relying on militants and cultists to rig the elections.
PDP alleges that the main reason behind the recent release of 55 militants who were currently standing trial for about 4 years now and the release of several cultists from detention is apparently to use them for 2015 general elections.
“This is unfortunate and a big threat to Nigeria’s nascent democracy,” the PDP declared.
